About Libby Sheehan

I am (as of May 2014) a 46 year old professor of architecture and urban design at the University of Warwick in the UK. I am married to Bart, a psychiatrist, and have three children: Tadhg (14), Romy (12), and Blaise (10) - I know, weird names, but I love them! In March 2012, completely out of the blue, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. After two major operations and two rounds of chemotherapy, I thought I was well, but unfortunately in October 2013 my oncologist told me the cancer had come back in many different places and it was now terminal. Life is very different for me now. Mostly I am quite happy and peaceful and I am learning all the time. I am writing this blog because it helps me to write my thoughts but if I can offer hope to even one person in a similar situation to me, then it will be worthwhile.

You know what I’m talking about. There are major events in our lives – getting married, taking ‘A’ levels, giving birth – that are so momentous it feels they will never actually arrive. After all, they are just normal, run-of-the-mill … Continue reading →

I fear my brain may have gone the same way as my legs – i.e. stopped working. I hope I can still express myself to you loyal readers. For those of you who don’t know, a pain relief procedure (saddle … Continue reading →

The kids are peeling. Yes, peeling. Do you remember that feeling and look, from our pre-skin cancer awareness days? All that effort, putting up with the discomfort of overheating and sunburn, in order to obtain a glorious copper tan, and … Continue reading →

I have just returned from a short break with Bart in a beautiful part of Mallorca. It made me wonder about how we holiday – what sort of attitude we have. Are you happier than normal or does everything fall … Continue reading →

I never, ever, ever, leave the house without makeup. I never walk around the house without makeup. Throughout my gruelling rounds of chemotherapy there was not a day when I did not get up and dressed and put on my … Continue reading →

I’d like to think I’ve brought my kids up to know the important values in life – caring about those less fortunate than themselves, developing good relationships with friends and family, understanding their own emotions, making the most of their … Continue reading →